H.S. FOOTBALL: Greencastle-Antrim returns from camp at Lebanon Valley College

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By Ben Destefan

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By Ben Destefan

Posted Jul. 25, 2013 at 11:00 AM

By Ben Destefan

Posted Jul. 25, 2013 at 11:00 AM

ANNVILLE — It's become an annual staple of the program's summer preparation.

For 20-plus years, members of the Greencastle-Antrim varsity football team have taken part in the highly-regarded camp held at Lebanon Valley College, with the last four days serving as the Blue Devils' most recent visit.

Roughly 50 players made the trip, with solidified starters being joined by aspiring contributors, all of which participated in drills and scrimmage scenarios against fellow attendees.

"It went well," G-A head coach Chuck Tinninis said of the venture that ran from Sunday to Wednesday. "We got a lot of good work in and I feel like the guys learned a lot. It was definitely a good experience."

Tinninis, who is entering his 26th season at the helm, considers LVC's camp not only one of the best in the area, but also the entire region.

"We've been going for 21 years," Tinninis explained. "I've always been impressed with how it's run and we see results from it every summer. I seem to learn a little each time as well and it's one of those things where if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

"There were several good teams there," Tinninis explained. "You get to see a little bit of everything, which is nice. It's a mixture of different schemes and coaching styles, so you get the opportunity to prepare for different situations."

Aside from the on-field assets, getting the team away from home acts as an underlying benefit capable of paying dividends down the line.

"Of course you want to get the work in, but going away really seems to unify them as a team," Tinninis said. "It's fun for the guys and it's also beneficial to what we're trying to accomplish."

Now back in Greencastle, the Blue Devils will continue holding voluntary workouts three days a week focused on conditioning and agility.

Prior to the official start of fall practices on Aug. 12, each football team must go through a three-day heat acclimation process as part of a new PIAA requirement beginning in 2013.

"We like what we've seen so far," Tinninis said. "Going to camp kinda sets the tone for what's to come. We now have to build on some of the concepts we learned the past couple days and continue getting better as the season approaches."

The Blue Devils open their 2013 campaign against Chambersburg at Trojan Stadium on Friday, Aug. 30.